Machine for circumferential color coding



March 25, 1969 c. J. GEATING MACHINE FOR CIRGUMFERENTIAL COLOR CODINGFiled Sept. 15. 1966 Sheet R G A 3ME 2 G 2 J 2 R E S Wm C m 6 2 5 2 WVX4 55 K v M ATTORNEYS March 25, 1969 c. J. GEATING MACHINE FORCIRCUMFERENTIAL COLOR CODING Sheet Filed Sept. 13. 1966 IIGA CHESTER J.SEATING March 25, 1969 c. J. GEATING 3,434,456

MACHINE FOR CIRCUMFERENTIAL COLOR CODING Filed Sept. 13. 1965 Sheet '3of s l INVENTQR nw yw e1 CHESTER J.GEATl-NG 97 95 97 73 79 72 Z I02 747876 74 XL/m6 I v lilllllllllllllll 3,434,456 MACHINE FOR CIRCUMFERENTIALCOLOR CODING Chester J. Geating, 1102 E. Joppa Road, Towson, Md. 21204Filed Sept. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 579,026 Int. Cl. Bc 1/04, 1/12, 1/00 U.S.Cl. 118-211 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present inventionrelates to an apparatus for applying indicia to a moving length ofmaterial such as wire, bar or sheet stock, tape and the like and moreparticularly relates to a machine for applying circumferential colorcoded bands to an indeterminate length of insulated wire foridentification purposes.

There has long been a need for marking electrical wire in order that itmay be identified as to wire number, type, size, voltage and otherqualities and also as to origin. It is important that the marking appearat frequent intervals throughout the length of the wire so that themarking may be seen even though short lengths only are visible or ac-'cessible.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to providean improved apparatus for color coding a continuous length of wire byapplying spaced bands of color to the wire, and means for varying theapplication of said bands at the wish of the operator.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus ofthe character described which generally includes a plurality of markingdevices for applying a complete or partial band to the wire, and thelike, said marking being operable by the material being marked toproduce a more uniform marking.

A further object of the present invention resides in novel arrangementsof the marking device which may take the form of a pen which picks upthe marking material from a separate reservoir or a coating applicatorwith its self-contained reservoir.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus ofrelatively simple construction, efiicient in operation and easy tomaintain.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of several embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

nited States Patent 0 3,434,456 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 FIGURE 4 s averitical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the marking devices in onemarking position taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a similar view in a second marking position taken on theline 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of marking device;

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view showing the manner of operation ofthe modified marking device shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of markingdevice of the type shown in FIGURE FIGURE 12 is a front view of amodification of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged detail view of a section of the apparatus ofFIGURE 12, taken on the line 13-13 of said figure;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIGURE 12, and

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of marking deviceto be used in the modified form shown in FIGURES 1 or 12.

Referring in detail to the form of apparatus shown in FIGURES 1-7wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,numeral 15 designates the casing comprising a base member 16 havingupstanding walls 17 and 18 forming the front and rear of the housing forthe gear arrangement and a removable U-shaped cover member 19 suitablysecured to said front and rear walls to permit access to the interior ofthe housing. The machine shown in FIGURES 1-7 illustrates a two-sidedmachine which can be used for marking two lengths of wire with the sameor different information. Since the operating and marking devices forboth sides are the same, only one side will be described.

The base member extends beyond the front and rear walls and provides aledge upon which a plurality of inking reservoirs 20 are supported.Although any number of marking pens may be provided, the present machineillustrates the use of four sets of pens and since each set requires itsown ink reservoir, four reservoirs 20 are shown.

The four sets of marking pens are indicated generally by numerals 21,22, 23 and 24 and consist of hubs 25 to which the individual pens aresecured, said hubs being mounted on each end of the shafts 26 whichextend through the housing 15, with the ends of the shafts extendingbeyond the front and rear walls of the housing. Gears 27 are secured tothe central portions of the shafts 26 within the housing for a purposeto be described.

The form of pen employed in FIGURES 1 through 7, and shown in detail inFIGURES 6 and 7, consists of a pair of cooperating fingers 28, 29 formedof spring metal, plastic or the like, the lower ends of said fingersbeing welded or otherwise joined to opposite edges of the hub 25. Thefinger 28 is formed with a V-shaped bend having the legs 30 and 31diverging from point 32. The finger 29 is similarly provided with a'V-shaped bend having legs 33 and 34 diverging from point 35 in adirection opposite from the direction of legs 30 and 31. The two points32 and 35 are normally in contact with each other and retain ink attheir touching point for application to the wire being marked in amanner which will appear as the description proceeds. The ink, which isindicated by numeral 36, is stored in the reservoirs 20 and is picked upby the pens each time the hub rotates and carries the pens through thereservoir. The several sets of pens indicated by numbers 21, 22, 23 and24 are constructed in the same manner as described in FIGURES 6 and 7and bear the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the marking pens 2'1 and 24 comprise two sets ofcooperating fingers disposed 180 degrees apart and each completerevolution of the hub 25 upon which the two sets of fingers are mountedwill make two complete 360 bands around the circumferference of the Wire37 being coded. As the Wire first ap proaches the marking wheel, seeFIGURES 4 and '6, the wire contacts the converging legs 31, 34 andapplies a half circumferential band to the lower half of the wire.Continued rotation of the wheel causes the wire to separate the springfingers and cont-act the under side of the converging legs 30, 33 asshown in FIGURE 7, thereby applying the upper half of the wire with inkto complete the upper half of the band as required with both halvescompleting the 360 band to the wire, as indicated in FIGURE 7. Continuedmovement of the wire separates the wire from the particular set of pensand advances the wire for the next application of a band.

Again referring to FIGURE 1, the marking pens 22 and 23, are providedwith four sets of cooperating fingers disposed 90 apart and eachcomplete revolution of marking pens 22 and 23 will apply four completebands around the wire 37. The various hubs on which the pen sets aremounted can be positioned on their respective shafts to vary thedistance between adjacent bands to produce a large number of differentcombinations. It will be apparent that different colored inks may bestored in each of the reservoirs 20, thereby further increasing thenumber of band combinations.

A novel drive and guide mechanism for the various operating parts willnow be described. The wire 37 is drawn from a stock wheel (not shown)through the printing apparatus by a driven take-up reel (not shown). Thewire 37 is wrapped around the wheels 38 and 39 mounted at each end ofthe marking machine. Either or both of the wheels may be drive wheels asshown or wheel 39 may be free wheeling or a change of direction wheel.The drive wheel 38, and there are two shown on each side of the machine,is mounted on the shaft 40, which in turn carries a gear 41 which mesheswith a gear 42 carried by a shaft '43 on which guide wheel 44 ismounted. Guide wheel 44 is geared to gear 27 carried by shaft 26 onmarking pen 21 and shaft 26 is geared to a second guide wheel 45. Guidewheel 45 is geared to marking pen 22 which in turn is geared to a thirdguide wheel 46. The third guide wheel 46 is geared to marking pen 23which in turn is geared to a fourth guide wheel 47. The fourth guidewheel 47 is geared to marking pen 24 which in turn is geared to a fifthguide wheel 48. Thus, it will be seen that as the wire is pulled throughthe machine, it serves as the drive means for the train of gears causingsimultaneous rotation of each of the guide wheels and marking penspreviously described.

Each of the guide wheels is provided with a groove 49 for guiding thewire past the marking pens and preventing lateral shifting of the wireduring its movement. Numeral 50 designates a guide wheel similar toguide wheel 44 and both of these guide wheels are solid guide andpressure wheels which support the wire as the fingers or pens come incontact with the bottom of the wire. The guide wheels 45, 46, 47 and 48are notched at points 51, said notches being arranged to clear themarking that may be wet or not set sufficiently to stand the contactwith a solid guide wheel.

The apparatus thus far described discloses a set of separate reservoirsfor each of the marking wheels which carries the marking fingers orpens, said wheels applying the circumferential coding hands by a singleset of pens which apply one half band at a time. FIGURES 8, 9 and 10show a modified form of marking arrangement wherein each marking devicehas a self-contained reservoir thereby eliminating the need for separatereservoirs such as 20. The marking Wheel shown in this form of theinvention, generally indicated by numeral 52, comprises a cylindricalhousing 53 and cover plate 54. The cover plate is provided with a shaft55 for r-otatably supporting the wheel 52. A threaded bolt 56 having aknurled cap extends through the housing 53 and cover plate 54 forfastening the housing to the cover plate. The housing can be filled withink or the like.

One or more slots 58 are formed in the periphery of the wheel andreceive a marking pad 59 made from felt, rubber, palstic or the likewhich can be wetted by the inking material 60 within the housing andtransferred to the wire 61 which is to be marked. The outer transverseedge of each of the marking pads is formed with a V-cut-out 6 2 and thetwo cutout portions 62 plus the inherent resiliency of the pads willcooperate to circumscri-be a band around the wire 61 as it is beingdrawn through the apparatus. The wheels 52 have portions 63 removedtherefrom adjacent the marking pads to prevent smearing of the markingmaterial as it is being applied. The periphery of each of the wheels isalso provided with a groove '64 to properly guide the wire through theapparatus.

With this type of marking wheel, upper and lower wheels are used to markcompletely around the wire. If it is desired to mark only part wayaround the wire, either top or bottom wheel can be used. It will beunderstood that the gearing arrangement used in this form of theinvention will be modified to provide for intermediate idler gearswhereby the marking Wheels will rotate in the same direction. It isunderstood that a plurality of wheels are provided and may be arrangedwith respect to each other to provide various spacings of the codedbands. The wheel housings may be of any desired size and are arranged tobe readily removable and replaced with different sized wheels whendesired.

FIGURE 11 discloses a slight modification of the marking wheel shown inFIGURE 8 and differs therefrom in substituting openings 65 for the slots58. This type of marking wheel is used when it is desired to apply dotsto the wire, or the like. Small pads can be used in the openings 65 butthese can be dispensed with by using a slightly more viscous markingmaterial.

FIGURES 12 through 14 disclose a modified form of print-ing apparatuswherein the wire to be marked is drawn through the printing apparatus ina vertical direction. For purpose of illustration, only a single wire isshown but it will be clear that similar printing and guiding mechanismcan be provided on both sides of the casing 66. The casing 66 issubstantially rectangular in shape and includes a front 67 on which thefour inking reservoirs 68, 69, 70 and 71 are rigidly supported. Ink ingrollers or applicators 72 are rotatably supported on the casing wall andtransfer the ink or other suitable marking material to the marking penswhich in turn transfer said material to the wire 73 to be coded. Theinking rollers may be formed of felt, rubber, fiber, metal, or the like,or may have a covering layer formed of felt, rubber or the like.

The inking pens illustrated in this form of the invention and shown indetail in FIGURE 15 are similar in construction to the inking pensillustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 and consist of cooperating fingers 74 and75. As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the pens are fastened to the hub 25. Inthe present modification, the pens may be similarly secured to the hub76 but as disclosed the pens are detachably secured to the hubs in orderthat the number of pens mounted on each hub can be varied. Each of thehubs 76 is provided with twelve openings 77 circumferentially spacedadjacent the periphery of the hub, said openings cooperating withopenings 78 formed in the fingers 74 and 75 to receive a threaded bolt79 and nut 80 to lock the fingers to the hub. Raised nibs 81 areprovided on each surface of the hub and are adapted to extend throughopenings 82 provided in each pen finger to prevent twisting of the pensduring operation. As shown in FIGURE 12, the lower hub 76 has twelvepens mounted thereon, the upper hub has four pens mounted thereonwhereas the intermediate hubs have six pens mounted thereon. Each of thehubs 76 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 83 extending through the front andrear walls of the casing and suitably secured thereto for rotation. Thehubs 76 are readily detachable from the shaft '83 whereby different hubsmay be used, means are provided to insure proper positioning of the hubson the shaft mounting and consists of an opening 77' provided in eachhub to receive a pin 77". Also mounted on each shaft 83 is a gear 84which cooperates with intermediate gears 85 whereby the hubs 76 turn inthe same direction when being actuated. The means for rotating the hubs76 is similar to the means for rotating the hubs 25 as previouslydescribed. Thus, the upper end of wire 73 is wound around a driventake-up reel (not shown) whereas the lower end of the wire is drawn froma stock wheel (not shown). The wire is wound around a drive wheel 86,secured to shaft 87 which is rotatably supported by the front and rearrear walls of the casing and a gear 88 is mounted on said shaft torotate therewith. The gear 88 meshes with one of the intermediate gears85 to provide rotation of the first marking wheel in the same directionof the travelling wire 73.

The wheel 86 functions and operates in the same manner as drive wheel'38 previously described but differs from wheel 38 in providingadjustment of wheel 86- for accommodating wires of dilferent diameters.This is accomplished by making wheel 86 in two parts with part 89 havinga threaded post 90 extending therefrom and part 91 threaded on said postand held in various adjusted positions by means of nut 92. The peripheryof each of the parts 89 and 90 are beveled in a direction towards eachother whereby a V-shaped groove is provided when the two parts areassembled as clearly shown in FIGURE 14. A V-shaped belt 94 formed ofrubber, or the like, is received in the groove and can expand indiameter when the two wheel parts are brought closer together.

In this form of the invention, the guide wheels 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48are replaced by an endless belt 95, the inner surface of which isprovided with teeth 96 for meshing with teeth 97 formed on pulleys 98and 99. The pulley 98 is supported on a bar 100 which in turn isadjustably secured to the casing 66 andadjustment means 101 is providedto increase the tension on the endless belt. Intermediate supportrollers 102 are mounted on the bar 100 to provide a substantial rigidsupport for the wire as it is being marked. The outer surface of theendless belt is provided along its length with transverse ridges 103,said ridges being closely spaced but far enough apart from each other topermit the marking pens to mark the wire between adjacent ridges asshown in FIGURE 15. The space between the ridges 103 serves the samepurpose as the notches 51 in FIGURE 1. The pulley 99 is suitably gearedto the internal gearing which is driven by the drive wheel 86 which inturn rotates the marking pens and the endless belt 95.

The modified form shown in FIGURE 12 through 15 is constructed so thatwire being coded is run vertically. However, by rearranging the positionof the inking reservoirs the machine can be arranged horizontally withthe wire moving in a horizontal position.

In FIGURE 15, as shown, a pair of fingers 74 and 75 are shown attachedto hub 76 by means of screws or the like. If desired the fingers can beformed as a single member joined by a U-shaped portion which can beinserted in transverse slots formed around the periphery of the hub 76and secured in place by anchoring means. A further form of attachmentcould be by merely taking the single member and detachably securing thesame to the outer periphery of the hub by screws or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1s:

1. A machine for applying coded groups of spaced markings along a lengthof strand, comprising:

a housing,

a drive wheel rotatably supported on said housing,

a plurality of marking wheels each having plural discrete markingelements located about its periphery, said marking wheels beingrotatably supported on said housing in cascade along the length of saidstrand,

means drivably intercoupling said drive wheel and said marking wheels torotate in fixed relative speeds each with respect to the others and withfixed relative phases of said marking elements each with respect to theothers,

said strand being wound about the periphery of said drive wheel and alsopassing linearly along said marking elements in sequence in markingrelation to said marking elements,

means including said drive wheel for rotating said marking wheels infixed speed relative to the translatory speed of said wire for allvalues of said translatory speed solely by pulling on said wire at alocation of said wire which is downstream of said machine, and

means for applying pressure to move said strand against said markingmeans during translation of said strand without smearing the markingsmade on said wire by said marking elements, the relative phases of saidmarking elements of separate ones of said marking Wheels being such thatsequences of adjacent but separated marks is made as related groups ofmarkings on said strand, wherein said means for applying pressureincludes pressure devices moved in synchronism with rotation of saidmarking wheels and contacting said wire only at discrete positions notoccupied by any of said markings made by any of said marking wheels, andwherein said marking elements are separable ink carriers through whichsaid Wire moves sequentially in inward and outward movements forproducing mark-ings over substantially complete circumferences of saidwire.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means for applyingpressure are plural rotary wheels each individual to one of said markingwheels and rotatably synchronized therewith.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means for applyingpressure include translatory fingers and means for moving said fingersparallel to and at the same speed as said strand.

4. A rotatable marking element for marking a linearly translatory wireabout its entire periphery, comprising:

two longitudinally extending supports having inking protrusions locatedin opposition to a corresponding protrusion in the other of saidsupports,

said protrusions having at least substantially contacting and opposedapices and said fingers having spacings taken on either side of saidapices greater than the diameter of said wire, said protrusions beingresiliently separable in response to movement of said wire through saidapices to enable said movement,

the dimensions and configurations of said protrusions being such thatsaid wire is marked only once over comprising:

a first inking member having a first inking element,

through said protrusions in a direction generally parallel to saidfingers and perpendicularly of the direction of translation, and

means constraining said wire to move inwardly through said protrusionsand thereafter to move outwardly of said protrusions during translationof said wire by applying force to said wire only at locations unoccupiedby markings.

7. In a system for inking a translating wire, strand or bar, twoparallel longitudinally extending members having protruding elementsextending towards each other,

said protruding elements being at least substantially contacting andopposed elements, said members exclusively of said protruding elementshaving spacings a second inking member having a second inking eletakenon either side of said protrusions greater than ment normally facing andat least substantially in the diameter of said wire, said members beingrecontact with said fir t inki g element aid inking siliently separablein response to movement of said elements being separable in response tomovement of Wire through Said P iO said strand, wire or bartherebetween, the dimensions and configurations of said protruding arotatable wheel supporting both said inking members 2 elemen s beingsuch that said wire is marked over at for rotation of said inkingelements on a predeterleast nearly its entire cifcumffleflce duringmovernined radius, ment of said wire through said protruding elementsmeans translating said wire with respect to said wheel in a directiongenerally parallel to said fingers and with its center line at saidradius and with all points perpendicularly 0f the direction f an a n, ofsaid center line moving at the same linear speed a marking W eel avingan axis and means securing said as said inking elements, and members tosaid marking wheel for rotation theremeans for moving said wire whollypast said inking elewith about Said axis, and

ments inwardly toward said wheel and thereafter outmeans 6011511 ainingSaid Wife to move inwardly through wardly from said wheel, as said wiretranslates past Said protrusions and thereafter to move outwardly ofsaid inking elements and said wheel rotates, said last Said protrusionsduring translation f Said Wiremeans being operative to contact saidstrand, wire or bar only at points free of markings made by said inkingelements.

6. A machine for applying markings to a length of wire said membersbeing resiliently separable in response to movement of said wire throughsaid protrusions,

the dimensions and configurations of said protrusions being such thatsaid wire is marked over at least its entire circumference duringmovement of said wire 8. A machine for applying coded groups of spacedmarkings along a length of strand, comprising:

a housing,

a drive wheel rotatably supported on said housing,

which is being pulled through said machine, said machine a pluralitymarking Wheels each havirig plulal disbeing operative solely in responseto power applied by s marking elements i about us penphery pulling ofsaid wire through said machine, comprising: i mark.mg Wheels bemgrotatably Supported a housing said housing in cascade along the lengthof said a plurality of marking wheels rotatably mounted along one sideof Said housing in a Common plane, each means drivably mtercouplmg saiddrive wheel and said having discrete marking elements in said plane sepfwheals to rotate m fixed relfmve Speeds ea.ch armed by am 31 angles withrespect to the others and with fixed relative a free drive wheelrotatably mounted on said housing, Phases of sad markmg elements eachwith respect to said wire being wound about said drive wheel indrivothers ing relation to said free drive wheel, said drive wheel saidi Passing imearly .along t marking elebeing rotatable solely in responseto translational {mints m Sequence m markmg relatlon to Saldmarkmovement of said wire through said machine in remg elements. sponsesolely to pulling of said wire through said mains for rotatmg Sald drivewheel. m fi Speed relamachine and in synchronization with the movementfive 9 the translatory Speed of i wlre for an vahies of the wire for allspeeds of movement of said wire, of trarislatory Speed i m i l topillhng the line of said wire and the radii and centers of rota- On SaldWire at locatlfm of sad Wire which 18 tion of said marking elements anddrive wheel being downstream Sald machme such that said wire and saidmarking elements coinfor aliplymg Pressur? to move i stranil againstcide and contact on a common line once during each Sa.1d markmg {meansdunng.translatlon of sand Strand rotation of each of said markingelements, wlihout m the markmgs a on Said Wire f means intercouplingsaid drive wheel and all said sald Lmarkmg elements the relative of sadmarking wheels for driving all said marking wheels marking fiiements ofSeparate Ones of q marking in synchronism and in such relative phasesthat said wheels being Such that Sequences of adjacent but markingelements all travel at the same linear veeparated P are made f groups ofmark' locity as said wire while said marking elements con- 0 i on BaldWherem Sald means for P tact said wire but in diverse phases arrangedsuch that mg PrFsSure.mc1ude pressure. devlces. moved m marks created bydifferent ones of said marking chromsin Wm} rotfitlon of Said .markmg hiand wheels are spaced from each other to create spaced contaqtmg Saldwlre Dilly at (.hscrete Posmons not groups of spaced marks on said wirein response to ocpupled any of Said markulgs niade by.any of passage ofsaid wire through said machine, wherein 35 sald markmg wheelsflandwherein Said marking each of said marking elements includes two parallelf i are sepafaPle mk Gamers through Whlch Said longitudinally extendingmembers having protrusions Wlre 1S .moved Inward and movements 9 actingas inking elements extending towards each producmg markings ysubstantlauy Complete other in a sense transversely of the longitudinaldicumference} sand Wire mansions of Said members 9. The combinatlonaccording to claim 8, wherein said means for applying pressure areplural rotary wheels each individual to one of said marking wheels androtatably synchronized therewith.

10. The combination according to claim 8, wherein said means forapplying pressure include translatory fingers and means for moving saidfingers parallel to and at the same speed as said strand.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Burbank 10135 XR Hallock 401--35Manss 10137 XR Thornayer.

Shaifner 101172 Blackwell et a1 101119 Phillips 10136 Olson 10137 XRHargreaves et a1 10136 Malnar 1017 XR Nystrom 10136 XR Sherman 1011 19Reigh 118227 XR Seigle 118227 XR Burns 118224 XR King 10136 ROBERT E.PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 10 C. D. CROWDER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

